The Necromancer summoner is a good starter class in Eastern Sun, because '+3 To Skill Tab' Rings and Amulets are easily and cheaply acquired and Necromancer summoners usually need only the Summoning tree. Aura items are abundant as well, and benefit your minions a lot. Annihilation aura, for example, grants Crushing Blow, which works very well with the Paladin's Zeal, but even better with an entire army of minions.

The Poison and Bone Necromancer is also an excellent choice. While Lower Resist does not reduce resistances to these spells, there is a new curse which does.

The Necromancer has also acquired some new skills, allowing for new kinds of builds.
Hydra and Blade Fury will allow you to think of some new tactics previously unavailable to the classic Necromancer. Most debilitating curses have an innate physical resistance reducing effect. This allows all of those curses to be used in conjunction with Corpse Explosion. Iron Maiden will be better than Amplify damage when your minions are fewer than your enemies, for example.

Melee Necromancers are not easy but can be viable, even in Hell difficulty, if they have decent gear, and are a fun challenge.